Terminal thorn on a leaf of Agave americana.Photograph by: Tangopaso
Public domain

The hearts of the plants, harvested for making Mezcal or PulquePhotograph by: Gérard Janot

General Information

Agave americana is an evergreen, succulent plant forming a large, rosette of sharply-pointed leaves a metre or more long and a flowering stem that can be 7 metres or more tall.
A true multipurpose plant, providing food, medicine and many commodities for the people who live in its arid environment. It is also used to produce a syrup, which is traded internationally. The plant is often grown as an ornamental.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

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The plants have a very sharp and tough spine at the tip of each leaf. They need to be carefully sited in the garden.

An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

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Properties

Weed Potential

Yes

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Other Uses Rating

Habit

Evergreen Perennial

Height

7.50 m

Growth Rate

Slow

Pollinators

Lepidoptera, Bats

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Agave americana is native to semi-arid areas in the warm temperate and subtropical zones, though it has often been cultivated in the Tropics. It is not very cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c or lower if conditions are not wet[

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.

The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.

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Widely cultivated as an ornamental, it has escaped from cultivation in some areas and is reported as being invasive in New Zealand and some of the Pacific Islands[

A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.

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A monocarpic species, the plant lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. However, it normally produces plenty of suckers during its life and these continue growing, taking about 10 - 15 years in a warm climate, considerably longer in colder ones, before flowering[

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

]. The sap can also be tapped by boring a hole into the middle of the plant at the base of the flowering stem[

A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.

].

Medicinal

The sap of agaves has long been used in Central America as a binding agent for various powders used as poultices on wounds[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

]. The sap has disinfectant properties and can be taken internally to check the growth of putrefactive bacteria in the stomach and intestines[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

]. The roots are steeped in water, and the water ingested for treating various ailments such as stomach pain, painful and difficult urination, scurvy, swollen and bleeding pulp of teeth, swollen bones, constipation, and poor appetite or loss of appetite[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plants are used in land-reclamation schemes in arid areas of the world[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

].
The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

]. It is likely that the root is the best source of the saponins that are used to make a soap[

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

].

A very strong fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making rope, coarse fabrics etc[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 20cm tall.
Offsets can be potted up at any time they are available. Lant out when the root system is established.

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?